New 7th Group commander meets with local officials

Okaloosa County Commissioner Dave Parisot chats with Col. Christopher Riga during a meet-and-greet session Friday at the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) cantonment. Riga took over command of the 7th Group on July 3.

TRACEY STEELE / Daily News

By ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

Published: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 06:36 PM.

EGLIN AFB — Local officials and community leaders from across the Emerald Coast gathered Friday morning to meet the newest commander of the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Col. Christopher Riga sat at the head of a conference table a month after he took command and talked with Okaloosa County commissioners, mayors and others.

“We have an opportunity with individuals, businesses and this community to get as close a relationship as we can,” Riga said at the 7th Group’s cantonment. “We’re just a small part of your population but we need this community.”

Riga enlisted in the Army in 1987 after graduating from Columbia University. He has served as commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s 1st Battalion and as a military assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

He replaced Col. Antonio Fletcher, who led the 7th Group for two years.

Riga said a priority as commander is to make certain that his soldiers — great Americans, as he calls them — are taken care of and their families are at home.

“We’re you,” he told the visitors. “Our job is to take care of our national treasure, the future of this nation and this area where we live. I want to make sure we’re a part of that community.”

EGLIN AFB — Local officials and community leaders from across the Emerald Coast gathered Friday morning to meet the newest commander of the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Col. Christopher Riga sat at the head of a conference table a month after he took command and talked with Okaloosa County commissioners, mayors and others.

“We have an opportunity with individuals, businesses and this community to get as close a relationship as we can,” Riga said at the 7th Group’s cantonment. “We’re just a small part of your population but we need this community.”

Riga enlisted in the Army in 1987 after graduating from Columbia University. He has served as commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s 1st Battalion and as a military assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

He replaced Col. Antonio Fletcher, who led the 7th Group for two years.

Riga said a priority as commander is to make certain that his soldiers — great Americans, as he calls them — are taken care of and their families are at home.

“We’re you,” he told the visitors. “Our job is to take care of our national treasure, the future of this nation and this area where we live. I want to make sure we’re a part of that community.”